WASHINGTON, -- As the national voice of the Hispanic legal community, the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) respects the U.S. government's authority to enforce immigration laws. However, it condemns intimidation tactics led by non-government officials and special interest groups aimed at immigrants to hinder or prevent their participation in the 2010 Census or in immigration rallies taking place across the country.

It is vital that all individuals living in the U.S. have confidence in all branches of government and in the rights conveyed by the U.S. Constitution. For this reason, it is irresponsible for any individual or group to implement intimidation tactics aimed at causing immigrants to fear participating in every-day activities. "All 44.3 million Hispanics and approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. – regardless of their ethnicity – should be counted in the 2010 Census and be allowed to publicly demand for comprehensive immigration reform," said Roman D. Hernandez, HNBA National President. "The HNBA condemns intimidation tactics that are targeting the Hispanic community, and looks forward to an accurate Census and to the passage of comprehensive immigration reform," concluded Hernandez.

The HNBA is an incorporated, not-for-profit, nonpartisan, national membership organization that represents the interests of the more than 100,000 Hispanic attorneys, judges, law professors, legal assistants, and law students in the United States,Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories. For more information about the HNBA, please visit www.hnba.com.